As part of the UK Government’s pledge to deliver greater broadband connectivity, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched its Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme nationwide in the first quarter of the year backed by a £67 million funding pot.
Simply put, if you’re tired of poor connectivity, and it’s hurting your business, this is the scheme for you.
The initiative is designed to enable your business to receive ‘gigabit-capable’ connectivity. It’s all about faster, more reliable connections to help SMEs do more.
And if that isn’t enough reason to experience gigabit broadband, the scheme provides a voucher for free installation worth up to £2,500.
But remember, the scheme has an end date of March 2021 or until the funding has been applied for.

When looking at the best places to start up and grow a new business, it’s no surprise that strong digital access is considered essential when it comes to making the list.
Business support firm Informi carried out a study to identify the top 20 best places in the UK to start a small business – with a high level of access to ultrafast broadband one of the key criteria. The results? The top spot went to Ipswich, which has good coverage of both Openreach’s superfast network and Virgin Media’s ultrafast cable platform.
Start-Up’s Cities Index 2017 gave digital connectivity similar importance when naming its top 25 UK cities to start a new business outside London. Access to business support, including accelerators, science and business parks with superfast broadband, were, once again, all highly valued.Oxford made the list due in part to its impressive Science Vale UK Enterprise Zone, one of the most well-regarded science park complexes in the UK, providing world-leading facilities including superfast broadband.
Closely following Oxford was Gloucester, a region that saw almost 4,000 new businesses start-up in 2016.
And Hull landed its spot largely because of its enormous Enterprise Zones, offering a range of benefits including superfast broadband.
But the question remains – do UK businesses have the technology they need to meet the growing pressures of the global economy?

Since launching at the start of the year and following the acquisition of a well-known Doncaster based telecommunications company, Connectus Group Limited continues to develop its team and offering.
The latest good news to come from the company is that they have welcomed a new Office Administration and Finance Manager to their Doncaster head office in Meteor House, near Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster.
Jessica Murray (27) from Doncaster brings with her a wealth of experience working in office and financial management roles for almost ten years. She has previously worked for fast paced organisations in the construction and chemical distribution sectors.
Jessica said: “I really wanted to join Connectus to embark on a role that would grow alongside an expanding organisation. Connectus is really going places and it’s an exciting time to be joining such a fast paced and renowned business offering connectivity solutions.”
Jessica will manage all the company finances, take on general office management duties and will be the first port of call for all new and existing customers with any queries they have regards to connectivity, grants available and full fibre networks.
Duncan Shaw, Operations Director for Connectus said: “We are very happy to welcome Jessica to our already experienced team at Connectus. She will bring an abundance of business and finance experience to the table which will benefit us as a company but ultimately our customers too.
Jessica is the latest to join the team with a further three positions currently being recruited for. For more information about Connectus, its services or vacancies call 0330 440 4848 or check out the social media pages.

It’s not something you’d add to your CV, but cybercriminal is a career for some and it’s becoming increasingly common as cybercrime is on the rise.
To make a living from cybercrime, an individual or group must be very skilled, dedicated, cunning and have NO conscience as they could potentially be taking away people’s savings, livelihood or identity.
Our team of experts at ebitConsultancy has seen a huge rise in businesses and individuals contacting us when they’ve noticed something suspicious, or unfortunately have been scammed and want to protect themselves going forward.
Most cyberattacks are influenced by money, whether they take it directly from individuals and businesses or by using blackmail techniques to make you hand over what they have asked for.

Would you hand over money to a stranger in the street?

The simple answer is NO!
There are always new means being created to scam people online, the most recent is ‘impersonator emails’ which are catching out hundreds of people weekly.
These emails are sent and look like a normal email arriving in business or individuals’ inboxes despite spam and email defences.
This new breed of deceitful email can arrive in your inbox as they are sent from genuine accounts, of non-cybercriminals, that you may even know.
The content of these malicious emails varies from ransomware to social engineering, whereby you are deceived to pass over money or data to someone that you trust.
The impersonator emails could come from someone you know because their accounts could’ve been hacked, or the owner’s private details stolen.
Cybercriminals identify personal details through social engineering or by conducting a Dictionary Attack – this is when a hacker exploits a router, domain or website, and methodically tries to login using common, previously verified and hacked personal details to match the correct password, and then seizing ownership of that user’s rights.
Another form of impersonator email is when a malicious email is disguised by using convincing graphics or a HTML trick, which makes it difficult for the receiver to identify that the sender account is fraudulent. By using well known Logos, fonts, colour schemes and branding – the email can appear genuine and trick the recipient into opening it (one simple click is all it can take) and engaging with what has been asked of them.

Sneaky and threatening

Cybercriminals are clever and so is the technology they use to trick unsuspecting people or businesses of any size.
An example of the threats that these emails contain is Ransomware, which looks just like a friendly link or download. The malicious software will begin encrypting your files to copy/steal your data and your user rights, your network may also be compromised. The only way to retrieve ownership of your data and rights is to pay a ransom. Your spam defence is more likely to catch emails with ransomware or viruses within them, however, it is less likely when coming from a genuine account, and even less if it is from within your own network.

Going Phishing

Phishing is an additional form of an impersonator email used by fraudsters to access valuable personal details such as usernames and passwords.
These details could have a monetary value to criminals and can often be used against an innocent individual often through bogus communications.
Here are a few things to look out for and what to do if you receive a phishing message:
1. Be Aware and Pro-active
When responding to emails never give your login or personal details. If you receive an email from a company that claims to be legitimate but is requesting these details, or a contact number, tell them you will call them back. Use a legitimate contact number for the organisation they may be impersonating.
Please be aware your bank will never ask for your entire pin number, online banking security code or any other personal data via email.
2. Use Your Spam Filter
If you detect a phishing email, mark the message as spam and delete it. This ensures that the message cannot reach your inbox going forward.
3. Know Your Source
Never respond to a message from an unknown source. Take care not to click any embedded links as it could take just a simple click for the impersonator to access your details.You must protect yourself
You are one of the biggest threats to your network and data. Your anti-virus and spam software cannot block impersonator emails because they do not contain a virus.
Cybercriminals are cruel, but they are very intelligent and unfortunately, they are very hard to catch.
As cybers security experts, ebitConsultancy works with businesses to educate them about online protection, how to detect spam emails and how to stop it from spreading to others – family, friends or colleagues.

Common Indicators of Impersonator emails include:

1. Does the email concern you? If not – DELETE it, don’t go any further with it!
2. Sender’s email – is the punctuation correct?
3. No personalisation – has the sender addressed it to you and has the tone differed from how the person usually writes?
4. Random context, attachments, poor grammar and a mix of lowercase and capital letters?
5. Bulk recipients – do you know the other recipients?
6. Surprising – would the content be more appropriately delivered in person or by phone call?
7. Subject headers – unrelated to the email content.
8. Absence of graphics and branding.

Don’t spread spam!

In the unfortunate event that you receive a suspicious email DON’T CLICK ANYTHING ON IT. Send it to spam and delete it immediately. If you’re unsure, do not forward it or reply. If you know the alleged sender, contact them via phone or in person straight away, as their account may have been hacked.
Cyberattacks are the result of organised crime, stay cautious and alert when you are online, with your emails and all other data activity.

Since the Government announced its backing of a full fibre Britain, connectivity specialists across the UK have been working hard to get SME’s fibre ready!
Connectus Group Limited based in Doncaster near Robin Hood Airport is one such Government approved supplier that is working with businesses in Yorkshire and the north of England on connectivity solutions.
The company is pleased to announce that in line with the £67m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme launched by BDUK, 10% of the Connectus customer base is now experiencing full fibre internet speeds of up to 1Gbps for their business.
Andy Marsden, Connectus business development director explains: “Since the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme was announced, businesses across the north of England have been snapping up the grant opportunity.
“Upgrading business connectivity makes perfect business sense and is a decision that business owners need to look into sooner rather than later if they are to stay ahead of competitors and continue to build a compelling and sustainable advantage. We are making it easy for customers to adopt a more modern and cost-effective approach to working and improving efficiencies via the adoption of cloud base services, VOIP and Cyber security counter measures, all of which can be accessed over our full fibre network.”
All small and medium sized businesses can apply through the voucher scheme to be awarded a £2,500 grant which will cover the full cost of the entire fibre installation. The only cost to the SME is the VAT which can be reclaimed from HMRC if you are VAT registered.
For more information or to apply for a Gigabit Broadband Voucher visit our BDUK page or call: 0330 440 4848.

With the Government committing to a vision of a full fibre Britain by 2033, businesses could be eligible for grant funding to upgrade their connectivity.
Full Fibre broadband connections offer the fastest and most reliable internet speeds available, and as part of the Governments initiative, BDUK has announced a £67m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme meaning all small and medium sized businesses across the UK can now apply for a £2,500 Gigabit voucher, to be used towards the installation costs of a gigabit capable connection.
Doncaster based telecommunications specialists Connectus Group Limited is a pre-approved Government supplier, who can offer businesses the support and guidance required when applying for a BDUK grant, making it even easier to get businesses connected to superfast broadband.
Andy Marsden, business development director for Connectus Group Limited explains: “There has been a huge take up of the £67m funding already, so make sure you take advantage of the £2,500 grant today, to help improve your organisations broadband connectivity.
“Demand for faster digital connectivity is set to accelerate in upcoming years and getting ready for gigabit internet speeds is an essential step for most businesses, don’t get left behind as we discontinue our legacy slower speeds in favour of our full fibre strategy”
To be eligible to apply for a Gigabit voucher, businesses must employ fewer than 250 people and have an annual turnover not exceeding £50 million and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding £43 million.
Businesses must also not have received more than the permitted amount of grant funding in the last three years. The broadband connection speeds that businesses are looking to achieve with the new internet connection, must also double the current broadband speeds.
For further details on all the BDUK Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and the connectivity requirements contact Connectus today on 0330 440 4848 or email info@connectus.org.uk

Doncaster based Connectus Group, is starting as it means to go on after acquiring Eximus Solutions earlier in the year.
Since the acquisition in February, Connectus Group has been a hive of activity, investing in its services, networks, office facilities, team and external partnerships to create a force to be reckoned with, in the industry.
It is this proactiveness that has seen the company cement long established relationships, whilst forging new ones – to ensure customers can enjoy an all-inclusive range of business connectivity solutions.
One such partnership that Connectus has adopted is with Cirro Solutions that had a long-established relationship with Eximus Solutions as both a customer and supplier.
Since the buyout, Connectus Group has further developed the relationship with Cirro which sees both parties collaborating to deliver innovative and cost-effective Cloud infrastructure.
Cirro provide the Cloud Service Platform to Connectus for the UCentriX VoIP service, which is being rapidly deployed across SMEs and large corporates across the UK. Cirro has been a long-term user of UCentriX internally and has successfully delivered it to several of their own customers.
Another benefit to Connectus customers is a more recent collaboration with EbitConsultancy. Ebit provide the right processes, supported by the right technology to ensure businesses enjoy state-of-the-art online security. By identifying cyber threats and ensuring organisations are GDPR compliant -protects them, allowing business owners to concentrate on creating value.
Duncan Shaw, operations director at Connectus said: “Cirro has been one of our trusted technology partners for many years and run our entire Cloud Platform on our behalf. For us, Cirro solve the challenge around how we deliver true SaaS delivery in the right way. It makes sense for us to work closely with them to offer digital transformation and outcomes to our customers
“EbitConsultancy is one of our newest partners and now allows us to offer a cost effective GDPR solution on a managed services basis. The benefit to our ever-expanding client base is an instant and ongoing level of protection from current and potential data protection and cyber security threats.”
Michael Owen, Cirro managing director adds: “The most important ingredient to a successful partnership comes down to management culture and trust, that’s why we are seeing such great successes with our innovative partnership with the Connectus team.”
Scott Taylor, founder of EBIT Consultancy concludes: “We are thrilled to be working with such a progressive, vibrant and forward-thinking organisation such as Connectus. Being part of their growing list of innovation partners is a real honour and we are already delivering GDPR and cyber security projects via our relationship.”
For more information about Connectus and its partnerships call 0330 440 4848 or check out the company Twitter and LinkedIn pages.

Since launching at the start of the year and following the acquisition of a well-known Doncaster based telecommunications company, Connectus Group Limited is going from strength to strength.
The latest development following the connectivity expert’s office refurbishment in Meteor House, near Robin Hood Airport is the appointment of Andy Marsden (33) as Business Development Director.
Andy brings with him a wealth of experience working with the SME business community in the North of England and supporting them with a range of services to ensure their businesses continue to flourish, in what can be very demanding markets.
Andy Marsden said: “I really wanted to join Connectus as I had been watching their growth since the buyout of Eximus back in February, I liked the company ethos, their hunger for expansion and yet offering a personal, quality service to its customers. It was a no brainer really!
“I can’t wait to speak with the local business community about our quality services and show them how committed we are to help them and their workforce work faster and smarter.”
Andy will spend most of his time based in the Connectus head office alongside meeting existing and new connectivity, telephony and IT services clients in and around Yorkshire and the North West.
He will bring added sales and marketing flair to ensure Connectus further develops, expands and continues to offer quality services to its custom base.
Paul Ruocco, chairman of Connectus said: “We are delighted to welcome Andy to our already experienced team at Connectus. He will bring an abundance of business experience to the table which will benefit us as a company but ultimately our customers too.
“We want Connectus to be the guiding light for connectivity services in the North of England and Andy will be our driving force in achieving this.”

Connectus Group Limited is pleased to announce the acquisition of Eximus Solutions Limited based in Meteor House, near Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster.
The buyout means that Eximus Solutions becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Connectus and will trade under the name going forward.
The company will provide innovative technology via collaboration with their clients including ultrafast business and mission critical connectivity, alongside other value-added services including Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), GDPR compliance via a secure managed service, Data Backup, Network monitoring and security, CCTV and Door entry systems.
The business transaction for an undisclosed sum, will see the company enjoy a fully funded business plan aimed at extending the company’s reach across the trans Pennine area, create new jobs to meet increased demand for business connectivity services, increase the number of wholesales partners they work with and drive increased adoption of their services by Superfast South Yorkshire and other funded schemes via their new proactive sales and marketing team.
Paul Ruocco, Chairman of Connectus said: “We are delighted with the transaction and that we now have access to resources to match our growth aspiration for the business.
“We would like to thank all of our customers, partners and suppliers who have supported us for the past seven years and we look forward to extending our relationship with them and providing even greater value to those loyal and new relationships.”
In addition to the acquisition, Connectus is announcing that it has just invested a further £100,000 into network hosting improvements & refurbishments and new office space in and around the Doncaster Business Park – rounding up the total investment in these areas to £250,000.
Duncan Shaw, Connectus Director said: “Following our recent investment we are thrilled with the company road map and the way our processes and services will be improved as we continue to scale the business with the number of large organisations we serve across the north of England.
“It really is an exciting time to be working for and with Connectus.”
For more information about Connectus call 0330 440 4700, email info@connectus.org.uk or check out our social media pages.

Connectus Group Limited, the parent company of Eximus Solutions is pleased to announce its new membership with both The Doncaster Chamber and INCA – The independent networks cooperative association.
The two memberships will further strengthen the company’s offering to customers in the north of England.
Joining the Doncaster Chamber will allow Connectus to build close knit relationships with the business community in and around the town, especially our 150 clients across the Doncaster Airport, Business Park.
Duncan Shaw, Connectus operations director said:” Connectus has a long-standing relationship with Doncaster Business Club, so joining The Chamber was a natural extension of that association and will enable us to build mutually fruitful relationships with customers.”
Joining INCA will allow Connectus to build compelling relationships with other communications providers to allow the company and its team to lobby government for continuous change and investment into Full-Fibre infrastructure across the UK.
Duncan concludes: “Being able to work alongside industry leading peers to enhance our capabilities by sharing knowledge, ideas and best practice will continually drive the services we provide, allowing us to serve more customers across the north of England.
For more information about Connectus call 0330 440 4848, email info@connectus.org.uk or check out our social media pages.

https://connectus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Connectus-Logo.png00Deborah McPeakehttps://connectus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Connectus-Logo.pngDeborah McPeake2018-05-10 10:11:522019-05-02 17:10:54Connectus becomes members of The Chamber and INCA

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